If a shirt could be woven from the fabric, the constant
vibration would "produce electricity as you move".

The power would be fed into flexible batteries that would also
be woven into the shirt. Appliances, including mobile phones and
palm pilots could then be plugged into the shirt.

The technology could revolutionise appliances such as mobile
phones. By adding printed flexible circuit boards, they, too, could
be woven into clothing.

"We see no reason why you couldn't do that," said Dr Best,
saying the day may not be far off when people could make phone
calls simply by talking into their collars.

The flexible integrated energy device is one of eight advanced
research projects chosen by the Defence Department for funding
under its Defence Capability and Technology Demonstrator
Program.

Dr Best predicted soldiers could use the shirts to power radios
and electronic devices carried on modern battlefields.

Such smart clothing could also power "back-to-base" medical
monitoring equipment used by the elderly and the ill.

While the initial Defence Department funding was only aimed at
seeing whether such a shirt would work, latter research, requiring
an investment partner, would seek to develop a shirt light and
comfortable enough to be worn.

To be a commercial success it would have to be no heavier than a
woollen jumper and would need to be washable - problems the
researchers are yet to solve.

The team includes Dr Richard Helmer, of the CSIRO's textile and
fibre technology division in Geelong, who has been leading another
project to develop a musical shirt. The wearer only has to strum
the motions, as if playing an air guitar, to beat out a tune.

"We are using some of the technology he has put into his air
guitar," said Dr Best, who believed Australia was leading the world
in power-shirt research. Flexible integrated energy devices would
change the way people shop.

"Instead of buying that mobile phone, you would buy a funky
shirt that does the same thing."

1192941339431-smh.com.auhttp://www.smh.com.au/news/technology/speak-to-the-collar-the-shirts-playing-its-own-tune/2007/10/26/1192941339431.htmlsmh.com.auSydney Morning Herald2007-10-27Speak to the collar, the shirt's playing its own tuneRichard MaceyTechnology